JoAnn Walker

JoAnn Cousins Craig Walker born December 23, 1931 in Talmo, KS to Ernest and Emma J Cousins and died June 14, 2024 at Park Villa Nursing Home in Clyde, KS.

JoAnn married Robert Craig on June 4, 1950 at the Talmo Methodist Church. They moved to Clay Center, KS after their wedding. While there, Bobby, Pam, and Kathy were born. They moved back to Talmo a year and a half later to the farm where she lived the remainder of her life. In 1958 their youngest daughter Marsha joined the family. JoAnn was the definition of a farmer’s wife; operating machinery, doing chores, milking cows, feeding the family, gathering cattle, and everything in between. She also enjoyed everything to do with horses. As a family of 6 they traveled all over the country attending rodeos and horse shows. She was the last living founding member of the NCK Saddle Club and never missed one rodeo.

On December 16, 1982 she married Tom Walker and to this union she gained 3 sons, Thom, Mike, and Jason (Jay). They spent the remaining years together on the farm. She worked as the head bookkeeper of Schuman Transfer Trucking for many years. JoAnn enjoyed playing cards on Saturday nights, gardening, trips to the casino (with her most recent trip being just 2 weeks ago), and a good dessert. JoAnn and Tom drove many miles over the years following their family to events and activities. She loved cheering on her grandkids and great grandkids. She was their biggest fan! She loved God and her family. And she shared that love with everyone she met. JoAnn never said goodbye without putting her hands on your cheeks and leaving you with a kiss. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Dean, husbands Robert (Bob) and Tom, son Bobby, son-in-law Bob Pugh, and grandson Cass Reynolds.

Survived by daughters Pam (Nick) Reynolds, Cuba, Kathy Pugh, Belleville, Marsha (Mike) Nelson, Smolan, sons Thom (Art) Walker, Kansas City, Mike (Stephanie) Walker, Kansas City, and Jason Walker, Boston, Mass, and her second-daughters Teresa Abel, Oakland Park, Fla, and Kathy (Russ) Tillou, San Francisco, Ca.

Grandchildren Kasey (Richard) Frost, Jay T (Kim) Reynolds, Kelly (Matt) McCauley, Nicki (Jeremy) Ragland, Stacy (Trent) Hansen, Robert Craig, Charlsie (Turner) McKay, Misty Reynolds (Cass), and 17 great-grandkids, numerous friends, and extended family.

Memorial Services will be Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home in Belleville, with Pastor Sandra Jellison-Knock officiating. Private family burial will follow at a later date at Zion Cemetery, rural Talmo.

Visitation will be Wednesday, June 19th, 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm, with the family greeting friends from 6pm – 8pm, at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home.

Memorials are requested to the JoAnn Walker Memorial, and may be mailed to Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, PO Box 566, Belleville, Kansas, 66935.

Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home of Belleville is assisting JoAnn’s family with arrangements.